Using high resolution displays for high resolution cardiac data

The ability to perform fast, accurate, high resolution visualization is fundamental to improving our understanding of anatomical data. As the volumes of data increase from improvements in scanning technology, the methods applied to rendering and visualization must evolve. In this paper we address the interactive display of data from high resolution MRI scanning of a rabbit heart and subsequent histological imaging. We describe a visualization environment involving a tiled LCD panel display wall and associated software which provide an interactive and intuitive user interface. The oView software is an OpenGL application which is written for the VRJuggler environment. This environment abstracts displays and devices away from the application itself, aiding portability between different systems, from desktop PCs to multi-tiled display walls. Portability between display walls has been demonstrated through its use on walls at both Leeds and Oxford Universities. We discuss important factors to be considered for interactive 2D display of large 3D datasets, including the use of intuitive input devices and level of detail aspects

HiReD: a high-resolution multi-window visualisation environment for cluster-driven displays

High-resolution, wall-size displays often rely on bespoke software for performing interactive data visualisation, leading to interface designs with little or no consistency between displays. This makes adoption for novice users difficult when migrating from desktop environments. However, desktop interface techniques (such as task- and menu- bars) do not scale well and so cannot be relied on to drive the design of large display interfaces. In this paper we present HiReD, a multi-window environment for cluster-driven displays. As well as describing the technical details of the system, we also describe a suite of low-precision interface techniques that aim to provide a familiar desktop environment to the user while overcoming the scalability issues of high-resolution displays. We hope that these techniques, as well as the implementation of HiReD itself, can encourage good practice in the design and development of future interfaces for high-resolution, wall-size displays

Adsorption of DNA onto positively charged amidine colloidal spheres and the resultant bridging interaction

The complexation behaviour of duplex linear DNA (negatively charged) with amidine functionalised sub-micron latex spheres (positively charged) was studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and a PALS interferrometric zeta potential sizer. Four types of DNA-sphere complex were investigated as a function of component concentration by combining amidine functionalised polystyrene microspheres with radii of 10.5 nm and 60 nm, and herring DNA of lengths of 35 nm and 85 nm. At low DNA concentrations (cDNA), the undercharged complexes showed a small increase in measured hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and a decrease in zeta potential with increasing cDNA. Within a critical DNA concentration range Rh was seen to peak sharply, and the zeta potentials were 0 mV, corresponding to the formation of unstable neutral complexes. Immediately above this concentration region the measured Rh values became comparable with those at low cDNA, and the zeta potential became negative, indicating the formation of stable overcharged complexes. The small and large spheres formed multi-sphere and single sphere overcharged aggregates respectively, which is thought to be determined by the relative magnitude of the chain persistence length (50 nm) and the sphere radius, switching on or off the DNA bridging interaction

Benchmarking the Timmins Process – a novel approach for low energy pre-combustion carbon capture in IGCC flowsheets

This paper reports results from an initial benchmarking study of the Timmins Process, a novel pre-combustion carbon capture process that uses a combination of traditional unit operations, DEPG scrubbing, carbon monoxide shift and carbon dioxide liquefaction, in a unique arrangement. The study examines the performance of the Timmins Process embedded within an integrated gasifier combined cycle (IGCC) flowsheet and the results are compared to data from the US Department of Energy (DoE) cost and performance baseline studies for coal-fired energy plants. Modeling was undertaken using UniSim R400 (Honeywell Inc.) with thermodynamic parameters for DEPG interactions being regressed from literature data; these results are also reported here. The net efficiency of an IGCC flowsheet incorporating the Timmins Process, with a carbon capture level of 91.8 % on a mass basis, varies between 33.8 % and 34.3 % depending on the process configuration and the cooling water temperature. This result compares very favorably to a DoE study for a conventional capture process embedded within an IGCC flowsheet that operated at an efficiency of 31.2 %. Further, more detailed, studies are recommended to assess the impact of various assumptions that underpin this work.UK Technology Strategy Board (strand two of the Carbon Abatement Technology call, 2011), Honeywell Inc. (research use of UniSim R400 as part of its Universities Program

Adsorption of DNA onto positively charged amidine colloidal spheres and the resultant bridging interaction

The complexation behaviour of duplex linear DNA (negatively charged) with amidine functionalised sub-micron latex spheres (positively charged) was studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and a PALS interferrometric zeta potential sizer. Four types of DNA-sphere complex were investigated as a function of component concentration by combining amidine functionalised polystyrene microspheres with radii of 10.5 nm and 60 nm, and herring DNA of lengths of 35 nm and 85 nm. At low DNA concentrations (cDNA), the undercharged complexes showed a small increase in measured hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and a decrease in zeta potential with increasing cDNA. Within a critical DNA concentration range Rh was seen to peak sharply, and the zeta potentials were 0 mV, corresponding to the formation of unstable neutral complexes. Immediately above this concentration region the measured Rh values became comparable with those at low cDNA, and the zeta potential became negative, indicating the formation of stable overcharged complexes. The small and large spheres formed multi-sphere and single sphere overcharged aggregates respectively, which is thought to be determined by the relative magnitude of the chain persistence length (50 nm) and the sphere radius, switching on or off the DNA bridging interaction

Virtual reality Powerwall versus conventional microscope for viewing pathology slides: an experimental comparison

Virtual slides could replace the conventional microscope. However, it can take 60% longer to make a diagnosis with a virtual slide, due to the small display size and inadequate user interface of current systems. The aim was to create and test a virtual reality (VR) microscope using a Powerwall (a high-resolution array of 28 computer screens) for viewing virtual slides more efficiently